The staffs used by disciples of the Buddhist Order were much like the swords of sword cultivators: they helped draw out the full power of formations and could also be used in close combat.
Yet Wugou had never used his staff since the tournament began.
Ning Ke thought he was being a little too arrogant.
So when they faced off, he decided to be arrogant for once himself and put this young monk to the test.
"...All right." Wugou did not refuse.
Ning Ke smiled and tapped his toes against the ground. The entire arena lit up.
Lines of light divided it into a chessboard.
"The Chessboard Formation." Wugou narrowed his eyes.
Using his movement technique, he dodged a flash of white light that appeared out of nowhere. A crack had already formed where he had just stood.
"Let me set up a Killing Formation for you." Ning Ke raised all ten fingers. Fine threads shot from his fingertips, controlling the formation's layout. Streaks of white and black light wove into a net, clearly intent on driving Wugou into a dead end!
In the stands, Abbot Wujue stared in disbelief. "Isn't this boy a sword cultivator? How is he so accomplished in formations?"
The other sect masters also turned to Gao Ze. "Sect Master Gao, does your Sword Sect teach formations too?"
Gao Ze said, "...Would you believe me if I said he taught himself?"
"No!"
"...Then I won't say it."
"A Killing Formation is not a certain death trap. It can still be broken." Wugou moved as swiftly as the wind, the entire formation's structure reflected in his clear, unclouded eyes.
Within a few breaths, he found its core. Channeling spiritual energy through his feet, he kicked the black and white pieces out of place, and the formation immediately dispersed.
But Ning Ke's lips curled into a smile. The next moment, another massive formation descended over Wugou's head like a cage, about to trap him inside!
Wugou tightened his grip on his prayer beads and struck the cage's corners several times with his palm.
The Magic Array's spiritual energy dispersed.
He pressed his palms together again. Spiritual Energy Threads that had appeared at some unknown point had already bound Ning Ke's entire body.
One tug would set the whole web in motion.
If Ning Ke moved forward, he would inevitably be injured.
But Ning Ke only smiled. The next moment, a red glow flared around him.
Only a close look revealed that it was an extremely thin layer of flame.
After burning through all the spiritual energy threads, Ning Ke closed in on Wugou in the blink of an eye.
He reached for Wugou's neck with one hand, but merely held it without applying pressure.
Leaning close to Wugou's ear, he asked, "Have you seen what kind of person I am, young master?"
Wugou paused in surprise, but did not resist. Instead, he sighed. "I can only see that you are not from this world, and...that you carry a resolve to die. I'm afraid you will lose your life someday."
Since childhood, he had been able to perceive certain threads of karma.
That was also why he had entered the Buddhist Order.
To him, Ning Ke's aura was extraordinarily unusual.
He could not see its origin, but he could see its end.
And that was death.
A very miserable death.
Ning Ke lowered his eyes. He guessed everything right.
He released his hand and said, "Young Master Wugou, keep those words to yourself. Do not tell anyone else."
"After all, everyone has their own fate, determined by heaven, not by themselves. As a member of the Buddhist Order, you should understand that."
Wugou nodded.
When he looked again, Ning Ke had already left the arena and was saying something to Lou Yunxiao.
The young monk's gaze settled on Lou Yunxiao.
He frowned slightly.
After all, the karma he had seen showed that Ning Ke's death was inextricably linked to Lou Yunxiao.
Then why were the two of them still so close?
Still, he had no intention of investigating further.
Having given that benefactor his word, he could not break it.
After Ning Ke's match with Wugou, it was Lou Yunxiao and Zhuang Yusheng's turn.
"Good luck, eldest senior brother!" Ning Ke and Ning Xiaoxiao cheered Lou Yunxiao on with bright smiles.
After a brief pause, Lou Yunxiao showed his competitive side for the first time. "I will definitely beat him."
Ning Xiaoxiao's eyes curved with her smile. Is this what happens when love rivals beat each other up?
A full-blown romantic showdown! This is what I've been waiting for!
"At last, it's our turn." Zhuang Yusheng took out his Guqin, his expression unusually serious.
"Let me make this clear beforehand. I won't go easy on you just because you're blind."
"I don't need you to go easy on me." Lou Yunxiao said coldly, "Just don't cry if I win."
"!!!"
Lou Yunxiao and Zhuang Yusheng had fought before they turned fifteen.
Back then, Zhuang Yusheng had come just short of winning and had been so upset that he lay on the ground crying.
Ever since, that incident had been a shameful blot on Zhuang Yusheng's past.
But he had been certain that someone as indifferent as Lou Yunxiao would never expose him!
Yet now he had said it in front of everyone!
Zhuang Yusheng glanced below the stage. A Ke was smiling the brightest!
Lou Yunxiao had definitely done it on purpose!
That man was-he was a sly bastard!
"Enough of that nonsense! This time, I'll beat you!" Zhuang Yusheng laid both hands on the Guqin. The next moment, its music transformed into sabers, spears, swords, and halberds that rushed at Lou Yunxiao!
Lou Yunxiao's silk ribbon fluttered in the wind. Freezing energy poured out, but it only held off the weapons formed from spiritual energy for an instant.
The next instant, he raised his sword and swung.
There were no Sword Moves, only a seemingly effortless slash. Yet it seemed to hold matchless power as it cleaved down through the air!
Boom-
The arena split apart. Sword intent swept across it, nullifying every attack. Had Zhuang Yusheng not fled fast enough, that strike would have injured him!
"Fuck! Lou Yunxiao, you bastard, you actually comprehended sword intent!" Zhuang Yusheng could not help swearing.
His shout stunned all the watching cultivators.
The three sect masters in the stands turned to Gao Ze in unison. "Surely you taught him that?"
Gao Ze said, "...Would you believe me if I said he comprehended it himself and I only gave him a little guidance?"
"..." The sect masters no longer wanted to speak to Gao Ze.
The way they looked at Lou Yunxiao changed as well.
To comprehend sword intent at such a young age-even if he was blind, he would surely become an immensely powerful fighter in the future.
But...that demonic energy.
It remained a constant source of concern.
"So what if you have sword intent?" Zhuang Yusheng's hair was disheveled, but his eyes shone with startling brilliance. Holding the Guqin in one arm, he pressed his fingers hard enough for the strings to cut his skin.
Then, with that hand, he played a melody at incredible speed.
Those with sharp eyes could see his blood mingling with spiritual energy, forming several runes in the air along with the music.
At the same time, his aura surged to the peak of the golden core stage!
The terrifying pressure stunned the sect masters in the stands.
"That brat." Hong Yao shrugged. "He really is competitive. He's even using Blood Melody."
In the arena, Lou Yunxiao frowned as well.
He sensed danger.
Holding his sword across his body to block, Lou Yunxiao was surrounded by densely packed runes. Whenever he cut them apart, they regenerated.
Before long, several wounds appeared on his body.
The music also kept interfering with his judgment.
Scenes of his family's massacre flashed through his mind again and again.
They bewitched him and tormented him, making him fearful, making him weak.
They even began to rob him of his awareness of the outside world.
Cold sweat seeped from Lou Yunxiao's forehead.
Ning Ke noticed something was wrong and called out to him. "Senior brother!"
His voice carried a trace of spiritual consciousness, allowing Lou Yunxiao to hear him perfectly clearly.
It also brought Lou Yunxiao back to his senses in an instant.
Matchless sword intent enveloped the Pale Silver Sword. As Lou Yunxiao moved, it shattered every rune and broke through the music.
The next instant, his sword was already at Zhuang Yusheng's throat.
The sword intent cut through his skin.
One more push would sever his head from his body.
Zhuang Yusheng sighed softly, his aura slowly subsiding.
He looked toward Ning Ke and said, "I lost."
But he pushed Lou Yunxiao's sword aside, walked up beside him, and whispered, "But when it comes to love, you're still a coward."
"In that respect, I'll never lose to you."
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